Hand bag



T. S. CART Dec. 17, 1,935.

HAND BAG Filed April 16, 1934 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIE HAND BAG Application April 16, 1934, Serial No. 720,687

3 Claims.

This invention relates to hand-bags. It is an object of the invention to provide a bag of simple construction which can be manufactured inexpensively.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bag which will stand open for the insertion of articles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure l is a perspective View of the bag with the gusset or cover closed, and

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the gusset or cover opened.

Referring to the drawing, the bag comprises side members I and 2 and a bottom member 3, which members, as illustrated in the drawings, can be conveniently formed from a single piece or material, although if desired, the said members can be made from a plurality of pieces of material stitched together. The side members are provided with top edges 4 and end edges 5 and 5, the end edges preferably merging into the lop edge along rounded corners I.

Closing the ends of the bag are a pair of end members 8 which are secured to the end edges of the side members I and 2 and are also secured to the edge of the bottom 3. The said end members 8 terminate adjacent the top edges of saidside members I and are provided with a free edge 53 which serves to space the top edges of the side members one from the other. Preferably the said free edges ofthe end members are reinforced or stiifened by a strip ll] of stiffening material, such as fiber, for example.

Secured along the top edges of the side memhere i and 2, but terminating adjacent the end edges thereof are a pair of gusset members I I and I2 forming a cover for the top of the bag. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the said gusset members are made wide enough to overlap, as illustrated in Figure 1, in order that they may be secured together by snap fasteners I3, although it will be understood that any other suitable fastening means such as a slide fastener may be used if desired. Preferably, the said gusset members are stiffened or reinforced longitudinally by strips I4 of suitable material, such as fiber, for example.

Handles I5 may be secured to the side members I in any suitable manner.

It will be observed that when the gusset members II and I2 are opened, as illustrated in Figure 2, the bag will stand open for the convenient insertion of articles.

I claim as my invention:

1. A handbag having side members having top edges and end edges, end members secured to said end edges but terminating adjacent said top edges, and having a free edge spacing the top edges of said side members, the material adjacent said free edge being folded to provide a pocket, means inserted in said pocket for stiffening said free edges to cause the bag to stand open, said bag being limp and flexible except Where stiffened by said stiffening means, means secured to said side pieces and forming a closure for the top of the bag, and a handle secured to each of said side members, so that the weight of the bag is supported through said side members.

2. A handbag having side members having top edges and end edges, end members secured to said end edges but terminating adjacent said top edges, and having a free edge spacing the top edges of said side members, the material adja-- cent said free edge being folded to provide a pocket, means inserted in said pocket for stiffening said free edges to cause the bag to stand open, gusset members secured to the top edges of said side members but terminating adjacent said end edges, said bag being limp and flexible except where stiffened by said stifiening means, means to fasten said gusset members together to close the top of the bag, and a handle secured to each of said side members, so that the weight of the bag is supported through said side members.

3. A handbag having side members having top edges and end edges, end members secured to said end edges but terminating adjacent said top edges, and having a free edge spacing the top edges of said side members, means for stiffening said free edges to cause the bag to stand open overlapping, gusset members secured to the top edges of said side members but terminating adjacent said end edges, the material adjacent the free edges of said gusset members being folded longitudinally to provide pockets, means inserted in said pockets to stiffen said gusset members, said bag being limp and flexible except where stiffened by said stiffening means, means to fasten said gusset members together to close the top of the bag, and a handle secured to each of said side members, so that the weight of the bag is supported through said side members.

THEODORE S. CART. 

